Ajay Krishna

Following the process

Today is the appearance day of Sri Vamanadeva (the Supreme Lord's fifth incarnation as a dwarf brahmana); it is also the appearance day of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu.

Ajay, the young, local Indian university student who first met Srila Gurudeva five months ago here in Govardhan, in April, on the day that I left for Russia, has been coming to our Seva Ashram regularly ever since that day. On this auspicious day, Ajay asks for, and receives, harinama initiation from Srila Gurudeva.

We see how, following the process described by Srila Rupa Goswami in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (1:4:15) Ajay began by consolidating his faith and his desire for spiritual advancement (adau sraddha) in the association of the Vaishnavas (tatah sadhu-sango), and now, having taken initiation from a pure Vaishnava, he will begin to engage in devotional service proper ('tha bhajana-kriya), under the guidance and the order of Srila Gurudeva.

In a short, simple ceremony at ten o'clock in the morning, Srila Gurudeva initiates Ajay into the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and gives him the name Ajay Krishna das.